Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-17
WAS IT MURDER?
How a Boy of Sixteen was Shot as De
serter.

Atlanta Constitution.
Was it murder2
A gronp of officers stood in an Atlanta
book store one sultry afternoon in 1864,
discussing the execution Of batch of de-
serters. 1t was just before the siege.
Sherman was on the other side of the
Chattahooche, and as the officers talked
the sullen boom of cannon every now and
then interrupted their conversation.
But was it murder?
This question was uppermost in my
mind as listened horror-stricken to the
running talk around me. 1t hsd been re-
marked that one of the dcserters who had
been shot an hour before was a youth Of
sixteen.
81 felt rather sorry for the boy" said
the captain.
"Oh, it's all right" observed the ma
ior.
"Discipline must be maintained at any
cost" put in the general.
ayes, of course" ass -nted the captain.
beyond doubt" was the majors
comment.
"Besides," said the general, che was
no longer boy. He was soldier, and
when he deserted he knew the conse-
quences."
Gust So" echoed the others stimuli
taneously, but their faces wore cloudy
| look
The general picked up Jsminl's Art of
War, and spoke of it as greatly over
rated book.
"What is the price of it?" ne inquired
"Fifteen dollars" replied the book
seller.
"You see, gentlemen" said the general,
show these cormorants take advantage OF
our misfortunes. Fifteen dollars for q
book worth 80 cents"
The military men all glared at the book
seller, VINO wisely said nothing.
EYES," said the captain, apparently re-
Stunning his talk, 81 never was so affected
in my life as l was when l saw that little
fellow shot"
"Did he finch?" asked the major.
"Not bit. He was very pale, and his
eyes had that taraway look peculiar to
men VINO are looking .eath in the face.
He stood it like hero, never trembled,
and had his wits about him to the last"
"Died instantly, didn't he?" said the
general.
"Yes Four balls through the heart"
$50 much the better. He did not suf-
fer" and the general, picked up "Ma-
han on Field Fortifcstions.
81 heard that the boy belonged to. a
good family" said the major. "He ran
away from home and joined the army,
and fought bravely. His desertion was
more of q little escapade than anything
else"
'If Sherman was not pressing us SO
Internally hard" interrupted the captain,
she would have been let of, but the
court-martial just rushed things through,
and there was nobody to look after the
boy"
Buom, boom. Thundered the cannon
over the hills at the front.
"Why should anybody look after him?''
interposed the general. eve must look
after the army and its discipline"
Boom!
"The fact is" continued the general,
"matters have reached point where we
must make an example OF Every man
who fails to do his duty"
81 admit it," replied the captain, "but
it makes my blood run cold to slaughter
mere boys"
The general tucked Jomini's Art of
War in his pocket and paid for it. Then
he turned around and cleared his throat
"Now listen to me-" he said impress
sively. "You certainly will give me
credit for the average amount of kindness,
sympathy and human feeling. Yet
cannot agree with you about that desert
er. According to all accounts he was a
sensible lad He knew his duty as u
soldier. He knew that if he deserted he
would be shas. What did he dor When
the enemy was marching on, threatening
this very city, endsngering the existence
of the CoLfederscy, lie sneaked off to the
woods. Some say he was go
ing to see his mother. 1t does
not matter. He was deserter. Ii we
spared him others would have to be
spared. The army would be demoralized.
DeSertions would be the order of the day
We had to shoot him as an example. II
could not be avoided. NoT, let US dro
the subject. l know that an right, and
l should like to see any one stand up and
say that l am wrong"
Boom, Room,
The wave of thunderous sound rolled
over the whole city, and people stopped
10 listen.
Just then light wagon covered with
dust aud evidently from the country
stopped in front of The store. Two
women alighted and came in. One was
quite young, and the other, who was old
enough to be her mother, leaned on her
arm.
"Hsve you an evening paper?" the
young woman asked the bookseller.
He handed one to her, and the old